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A new bio-hybrid device, the HybriBot, could change the way we approach reforestation and biodiversity protection. Developed by Istituto Italiano di Tecnologia (IIT) in collaboration with the University of Fribourg, this innovative robot uses 3D micromanufacturing techniques and natural components to offer an ecological and efficient solution.
Origin and design of HybriBot
HybriBot is the result of a collaboration between IIT andUniversity of Fribourg. Weighing only 60 mg, this bio-hybrid robot has been tested with tomato, chicory and loosestrife seeds, and in different types of soil, from sand to loam.
The robot consists of a capsule made of flour using 3D microfabrication techniques and two natural oat appendages, which can move in response to moisture in the air. This combination enables HybriBot to transport seeds autonomously and ecologically.
Work and testing
The research group has already conducted tests with the seeds of tomatoes, chicory and loosestrife, a flower particularly popular with bees. These tests demonstrated HybriBot’s ability to enhance plant development. A patent application has been filed for this invention.
This project is part of the European i-Seed project, coordinated by Barbara Mazzolai, Associate Director of Robotics at the IIT, and the innovation ecosystem RAISE (Robotics and Artificial Intelligence for Socio-Economic Empowerment), funded by the National Plan for Recovery and Resilience in Italy .
A solution to environmental challenges
Isabella Fiorello, the first author of this paper, is currently a Junior Principal Investigator in the Cluster of Excellence for Living, Adaptive and Energy Autonomous Materials Systems (livMatS) at the University of Fribourg, after a period of research within Mazzolai’s group at ‘IIT.
This invention represents a new solution developed by IIT’s Bioinspired Soft Robotics laboratory, a pioneer in robotics inspired by living organisms, especially plants. HybriBot aims to address issues related to climate change, such as the need for large-scale afforestation and protection biological diversity.
Technical characteristics of HybriBot
The HybriBot system combines a natural component – the appendages of the oat fruit – with an artificial component, which acts as a transport shuttle for the seeds, while maintaining the ability to move and interact with the environment of the natural specimen. Oat supplements react to moisture and thus generate movement of the structure on the ground.
This movement continues until the plant burrows into a crack in the soil, allowing the seed to germinate. The appendages rotate, cross and accumulate elastic energy, which, when released, moves the capsule. The HybriBot movement therefore does not require batteries or other additional energy sources.
Environmental impact and applications
The artificial capsule, weighing 60 mg, is approximately three times heavier than its natural equivalent. It was designed based on the study of natural capsule and mold construction using 3D micromanufacturing techniques. The artificial body is made of flour, covered with ethylcellulose to make the structure waterproof and stable. When ready, the capsule can be filled with seeds of other plants and fertilizers.
The use of biodegradable and plant-based materials makes HybriBot environmentally friendly and harmless even if ingested by an animal. The research group tested the effectiveness of seed deposition using tomato, chicory and lapnik seeds, the latter being particularly useful in beekeeping, and on different types of soil: loam, clay and sand.
Article: “Biohybrid self-dispersing miniature machine using wild oat fruit spikes for reforestation and precision agriculture” – DOI: 10.1002/adma.202313906
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